【SHIMANE】3 popular Zenzai sweets in Izumo - the birthplace of Zenzai

Did you know that Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, at the foot of Izumo Taisha Shrine is said to be the birthplace of Zenzai*? 

*ぜんざい（zenzai）: red bean soup made with Azuki beans

Around the Izumo Taisha Shrine, which is famous as a god of marriage, there are shops where you can eat not only Izumo Zenzai but also sweets with an arrangement of Zenzai. 

So here we go!

神門通り (Shinmon street) of Izumo Taisha is called by "zenzai street"!

Zenzai with mochi and white egg dumplings in red beans that has been softly boiled with sugar. It is a familiar food in eastern Shimane prefecture, where some people eat Zenzai for New Year.

It is said that the birthplace of such Zenzai is Izumo City, which is located in the eastern part of Shimane Prefecture. In the Izumo region, eight million gods from all over the country gather in October of the lunar calendar, and a Shinto ritual called "神在祭 (Kamiarisai)" is held around Izumo Taisha Shrine. It is said that the "神在餅 (Jinzai mochi)" that was used during this festival changed to "ずんざい (Zunzai)" and then "ぜんざい (Zenzai)" due to the accent of Izumo dialect, and is said to have been introduced to Kyoto.

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Omotesando “Shinmon-dori” of Izumo Taisha Shrine. At the end you can see the torii gate of Izumo Taisha Shrine.

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The word "出雲ぜんざい (Izumo Zenzai)" is everywhere on the street.

Three famous Zenzai shop you must go and try!

① Japanese Cafe Amaemon

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In the middle of the original is the shape of the deity of the Izumo Taisha shrine. The smiling face of Daikoku-sama is so happy that we can feel the lucky (lol). And Izumo Zenzai is characterized by a lot of soup. The soup is so smooth that it's also nice to break the skin off and eat it together.

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Besides of Zenzai there are also another sweets such as Parfait.

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🏠 : くつろぎ和かふぇ 甘右衛門

📍  : 〒699-0711 島根県出雲市大社町杵築南８３９−１

🕖 : 10:00 - 17:00

[Regular closed] : Wednesday & Thursday

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② Taisha Coffee

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Pancakes are mixed with flour, and baked one by one on a copper plate used by Japanese confectionery stores. The bean paste is made from Izumo Dainagon Azuki beans purchased from a contract farm.

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In fact, Megumi Sakane, the owner of this coffee shop is the owner of the well-established Japanese confectionery store "Sakaneya" that has been in Izumo for over 140 years. The carefully selected ingredients and manufacturing methods that have been passed down at long-established Japanese confectionery stores are also incorporated into the shop's sweets.

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🏠 : 大社珈琲

📍  : 〒699-0711 島根県出雲市 大社町杵築南780−9

🕖 : 10:00 - 17:00

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➂ Shinmondori Cafe Pomme Vert

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The interior of the building, which has been renovated from an old ryokan, is spacious and is ideal for families. There is also a pellet stove in the back, and at each table, customers slowly chatted and bloomed flowers. In addition to the meal menu, there are also a lot of cafe new items, so we recommend for those who want to enjoy tea slowly.

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The "ぜんざいロール (Zenzai Roll)" was created in collaboration with a Western confectionery store to create something using Zenzai that originated in Izumo when there were few shops offering cafe menus on this street. As the originator of Zenzai Sweets, this is a dish with many fans.

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🏠 : 神門通りカフェ ポンム・ベエル

📍  : 〒699-0711 島根県出雲市大社町杵築南８３５−５

🕖 : 10:30 - 18:00

[Regular closed] : Wednesday

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So from now on don't have to "What's we gonna eat today" 

Visit to Izumo and enjoy the sightseeing here too!

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